Genetic Analysis in Racing Animals

Abstract

The invention relates to products and processes for determining or predicting sporting performance, ability or aptitude of horses and other performance animals through the study of nucleotide sequence variants, genetic types or profiles, in particular the study of mitochondrial sequence variants. The invention is useful in the horseracing industry.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to processes for determining and predicting racing ability and aptitude in animals through the study of nucleotide sequence variants, genetic types or profiles and in particular the study of mitochondrial haplotype. Also provided are nucleotide sequence variants and their use in genetic typing analysis and classification. The invention is especially useful in breeding and training of thoroughbred horses for example in selecting performers for purchase or breeding, the study and design of breeding lines and determining preferred race distance and age of optimum racing ability. The invention is also particularly useful in the gambling industry as a valuable additional tool in the settling of suitable odds and classification of performers and their preferred / optimum racing distances. Also provided are kits for use in or with said analyses and methods.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]Horse racing is a multimillion pound industry ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a process for predicting or predicting sporting performance, ability, or aptitude of horses and other performance animals using analysis of nucleotide sequence variants. These variants include mitochondrial and chromosomal nucleotide sequence variants that have been associated with speed, stamina, and optimal racing distance. The invention is useful for animal breeding, training, and veterinary or nutritional fields. The nucleotide sequence variants can be used as a tool to predict the performance of horses in various sports such as racing, hunting, and jumping. The invention also provides a set of nucleotide sequence variants for use in haplotype analysis or classification of animals. The invention can help improve the performance of horses and other performance animals by identifying and selecting suitable nucleotide sequence variants for breeding or training purposes.

Problems solved by technology

However the breeding and training of successful racing thoroughbreds remains a very expensive and high-risk business and methods for improved prediction of racing ability and improved breeding and training methods applicable to racing are much needed.

A particular problem is that biologically and historically, thoroughbred racehorses have not lent themselves to conventional genetic studies relating racing ability, that is actual performance on the track, to genotype.

The assessment of performance genotype ratios in their progeny is difficult.

The application of new genetic advances and DNA technologies in this industry has been very limited and centred on veterinary areas.

The potential multifactorial nature of the inheritance of racing ability is another, significant problem for the study of simple Mendelian mechanisms, as are other variable factors that impact performance such as environmental and commercial factors.

There is no formal or established method of anatomical or pre-competitive performance assessment for thoroughbreds as there is for other sporting horse breeds such as showjumpers.

Nor are there any precise genetic criteria applied in the selection of these horses for breeding.

Similarly there would be no acceptance of animals produced by DNA manipulation or cloning in racing, even if such an approach was practicable given that it is likely that a multitude of genes are involved.

Even with cheaper and more readily available agricultural or laboratory animals such studies remain highly problematic.

However, none of these works have studied any relationship between genetic type and performance.

Studies of mtDNA variation in thoroughbreds have shown variation within the breed but these studies were restricted by relatively small samples and by examinations restricted to D-loop SSCP and sequence variation.

Classification studies of mitochondrial phylogenetics based on the mitochondrial control region (d loop) can miss variation located in other parts of the mitochondria (Parsons and Clobe, 2001) and make phylogenetic studies quite complicated (Ingman, 2000).

In addition, methods using sequencing as a sole main tool can give rise to incorrect identification of genotypes (Foster, 2003).

Thus, experiments, which are based on d loop also increase the number of erroneous sequences recorded.

However equine genes do not always have an equivalent role as their human counterpart and similar phenotypic expression may not be controlled by exactly the same genes.

This means that, unlike in humans, genetic biases will have been introduced and it may be difficult to assign importance to certain genes because preferential variants may have already been ‘fixed’ in this pre-selected population.

Although thoroughbred horses are selected for racing ability, there have not been any previous reported associations between genotypes and racecourse performance nor any reliable predictive techniques.

Images